well, both president obama and mitt romney spoke at the clinton global initiative up in new york today and that's ahead. they're all genuflecting to the big guy, elvis. he's back. watching "hardball," the place for politics. >>> welcome back to "hardball." one thing came through loud and clear today at the clinton global initiative up in new york, bill clinton is the man to see. he's so influential mitt romney took time away from the campaign trail to attend the meeting up there today. president obama, too, praised the former president. let's listen to president obama. >> i am grateful for your friendship and your extraordinary leadership, and i think i speak for the entire country when we say that you continue to be a great treasure for all of us. >> so what will the power of bill clinton mean for the 2012 election looking ahead for six weeks and beyond? john heilemann is new york magazine national affairs editor and an msnbc contributor. and i must give you congratulations, john. i was out there with you, you and mark halperin wrote the book that picked up four, count them, four emmy